A tour of Australian growers by a Japanese delegation has kicked off a project to strengthen the trading relationship with this important export market.

In June 2024, Hort Innovation commenced the Australian Horticulture Showcase: Cultivating trusted relationships with Japan program, an initiative designed to strengthen and expand the trading relationship between Australia and Japan.

This program is an important step in enhancing Australia’s role as a global leader in horticultural innovation and sustainable fresh produce production and supply, while solidifying the trade ties with Japan, one of the Australian horticulture industry’s key export markets.

Funded by Hort Innovation’s Frontiers investment program and a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Showcasing Australian Horticulture Grant, this program is delivered through Hort Innovation, led by AUSVEG and supported by the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (AFPA).

Japan-Australia Delegate Exchange Program

The first tranche of the program was the Japan-Australia Delegate Exchange Program, an inbound activity which took place on 6-12 October 2024. The program saw Hort Innovation host a delegation of Japanese horticultural industry leaders and representatives, importers, researchers, and government officials in Australia, including the incoming DAFF Ag Counsellor to Japan, on a five-day trade mission.

Victoria Farm visits – food waste initiatives and advanced orchard management

The official activities commenced with farm visits in Victoria, where the delegation visited Fresh Select in Werribee and Montague Farms in Narre Warren.

Fresh Select has built a strong reputation over 60 years for providing the freshest and most carefully cultivated vegetables, and its latest investment to produce dehydrated vegetable powder, called NutriV.

The next stop was Montague Farms, a business with a history dating back to 1948 which currently has more than 4.6 million fruit trees in the ground.

These visits offered a deep dive into large-scale vegetable production and advanced orchard management. Both farms showcased cutting-edge sustainable practices that contribute to Australia’s reputation for producing high quality, clean and safe fresh produce.

The Japanese delegation visited a range of horticulture businesses in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.

Queensland’s premium produce – citrus, berries and table grapes

The program continued as the group travelled to Queensland, where they visited Ironbark Citrus, Smart Berries, and RJN Cua in Mundubbera.

The delegation started with visits to Ironbark Citrus, known for their top-quality mandarin products and sustainable farming practices. The Japanese delegation then visited Smart Berries, where innovation and technology converge to produce some of the finest berries in the region. The final stop for the day was RJN Cua Vineyards, where the beautiful vineyards enjoy water supplied from the nearby Burnett River, resulting in supremely juicy grapes bursting with flavour.

This day highlighted Australia’s expertise in premium citrus, berry, and table grape production, three sectors with significant and further growth potential in the Japanese market. Discussions were focused on pest management and post-harvest management, topics of great interest to the visiting Japanese.

The heart of Bundaberg – citrus, macadamia, zucchini, watermelon

The third day saw the group visit three leading farms in Bundaberg, Queensland. The delegation visited Abbotsleigh Citrus, Macadamia Management Group, and Marto Farms.

Abbotsleigh Citrus Farm, part of the Nutrano Group, is known for their high quality oranges and lemons and their sustainable farming practices, which have set industry standards for environmental stewardship.

The Macadamia Management Group is a pioneer in macadamia farming, dedicated to producing top-quality macadamia nuts while prioritising environmental conservation.

Marto Farms is renowned for their innovative approach to farming, including the integration of robotics, and their commitment to community engagement.

The farm tours highlighted not only the scale of operations but also the sophisticated technologies and sustainable management systems used to ensure consistent, great quality and the finest produce.

New South Wales – cutting-edge berries

The delegation then travelled to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales to visit Costa Berries, one of Australia’s largest berry producers.

This visit showcased the role of technological advancements in maintaining the quality, freshness, and competitiveness of Australian berries in international markets. The delegation was particularly interested in the precision agriculture techniques employed at Costa Berries, which ensure optimal growing conditions and reduce environmental impact. The day’s visit sparked animated discussions about future collaborative research efforts between Australian and Japanese growers.

A grand finale of knowledge sharing

The final day of the program included a Knowledge Exchange Forum and Hort Produce Showcase.

This forum brought together industry leaders and researchers from both countries to engage in in-depth discussions on research, technical innovations, and sustainable practices shaping the future of horticulture. It provided a platform for participants to exchange knowledge and explore collaborative opportunities.

The final event of the program was the Australia-Japan Horticulture Industry Networking Dinner. This dinner was the perfect finale, offering a relaxed atmosphere for further conversation, networking and relationship building.

The Australia-Japan Horticulture Showcase initiative is funded by Hort Innovation’s Frontiers investment program and a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Showcasing Australian Horticulture Grant.